Michael Self Looks to Close the Deal in Battle for 2020 ARCA Menards Series Championship
Michael Self Looks to Close the Deal in Battle for 2020 ARCA Menards Series Championship
In a 30-year journey with the ARCA Menards Series that has seen a history of checkered flags and championships, it has been a particularly amazing two-year run for Venturini Motorsports. The organization won eight times in 2018. Not to be outdone, 2019 saw the organization win 14 of 20 races, win the owner’s championship, and teammates Christian Eckes and Michael Self finish 1-2 in the championship race.
Former series champion Bill Venturini and his wife of 47 years, Cathy, still oversee the team that carries their name, while their son Billy, runs the day-to-day operation of the team that can trace its roots back to the local racing scene around the Chicagoland area in the 1950s.
The 2020 season started off strong for Venturini Motorsports, with Self taking his second Daytona International Speedway win in three years. Chandler Smith, who is focusing his efforts with the team on the short tracks, won at Phoenix Raceway; and Drew Dollar and teammate Ryan Repko finished first and second, respectively, at Talladega Superspeedway, to give the team a sweep of the first three races of the year.
Smith drove to the win at Lucas Oil Raceway in suburban Indianapolis to give the team its fourth win of the year, and Self stormed to the victory on the road course at Daytona to give the team it’s fifth win of 2020.
After coming tantalizingly close in 2019, Self is driven to close the deal on the series championship in 2020. The 29-year-old from Park City, Utah, won on superspeedways and paved and dirt short tracks in 2019, and is also highly regarded for his skills on road courses.
He aims to be a constant threat in 2020.
“We came close last season,” Self said. “We had a great season but so did Christian. We have a lot of competition this season. We have to keep doing what we are doing, stay focused. I am not one to count points. If we do our job throughout the season, we will win races and the points will take care of themselves.”
Self returns to Toledo Speedway (Saturday, 5 pm, Live, MAVTV) looking for his first win at the high-banked half-mile oval. He currently leads the ARCA Menards Series championship standings by just one point over Bret Holmes in second.
A limited number of tickets remain for the Royal Truck & Trailer 200. For ticket pricing, availability, and purchases, please go to https://www.toledospeedway.com/pages/tickets.